Test of Written Language | Fourth Edition

The fourth edition of Test of Written Language (TOWL–4) is a norm-referenced, comprehensive diagnostic test of written expression. It is used to determine students' particular strengths and weaknesses in various writing abilities, document students' progress in special writing programs, and measure writing in research..

Benefits

• Identify students who write poorly and need special help.
• Determine strengths and weaknesses in various writing abilities.
• Document progress in special writing programs.

Subtests

The TOWL–4 has two forms (Form A and Form B), each of which contains seven subtests. The subtests represent the conventional, linguistic, and conceptual aspects of writing. Subtests 1–5 use contrived formats; subtests 6–7 use a spontaneously written story to assess important aspects of language. The subtests are:

1. Vocabulary—The student writes a sentence that incorporates a stimulus word.
2. Spelling—The student writes sentences from dictation, making proper use of spelling rules.
3. Punctuation—The student writes sentences from dictation, making proper use of punctuation and capitalization rules.
4. Logical Sentences—The student edits an illogical sentence so that it makes better sense.
5. Sentence Combining—The student integrates the meaning of several short sentences into one grammatically correct written sentence.
6. Contextual Conventions—The student writes a story in response to a stimulus picture.
7. Story Composition—The student's story is evaluated relative to the quality of its composition.